“The Heart of the Lion” – a novel of Irving Thalberg’s Hollywood |

THE HEART OF THE LION

A novel of Irving Thalberg’s Hollywood

Martin Turnbull

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Lose yourself in the Golden Age of Hollywood—and discover the story of the man who helped create it.

Hollywood in the 1920s: the motion picture industry is booming, and Irving Thalberg knows it takes more than guts and gumption to create screen magic that will live forever. He’s climbed all the way to head of production at newly merged Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and is determined to transform Leo the Lion into an icon of the most successful studio in town.

The harder he works, the higher he soars. But at what cost? The more he achieves, the closer he risks flying into oblivion. A frail and faulty heart shudders inside this chest that blazes with ambition. Thalberg knows that his charmed life at the top of the Hollywood heap is a dangerous tightrope walk: each day—each breath, even—could be his last. Shooting for success means risking his health, friendships, everything. Yet, against all odds, the man no one thought would survive into adulthood almost single-handedly ushers in a new era of filmmaking.

This is Hollywood at its most daring and opulent—the Sunset Strip, premieres at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, stars like Clark Gable, Greta Garbo, Jean Harlow, Joan Crawford—and Irving is at the center of it all.

From the author of the Hollywood’s Garden of Allah novels comes a mesmerizing, true-life story of the man behind Golden Age mythmaking: Irving Thalberg, the prince of Tinseltown.

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Read chapter one online now: CHAPTER 1

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REVIEWS:

Silver Screenings:
We read this book in two sittings, and probably would have done so even if we didn’t have an interest in Hollywood history. As a study of a man and an industry, The Heart of the Lion is a terrific read, and we heartily recommend it.

Art in Fiction
Turnbull expertly draws out the tension inherent in Thalberg’s constant awareness of his own frailty, even as he feverishly maintains a punishing work schedule. While the behind-the-scenes glimpses into the lives of a parade of famous stars make for a fascinating and entertaining read, the heart of the novel is Turnbull’s depiction of Thalberg’s emotional life.

A Person in the Dark blog
Turnbull paints a vivid picture of Hollywood in the 20s and 30s, the time when silent stars were gods, sound and the Great Depression shattered their west coast Mount Olympus and the subsequent rebuilding of MGM into a new kingdom that boasted more stars than there were in heaven. The sad demise of John Gilbert, Thalberg’s great friend, is handled as a fate inevitable as it is heartbreaking. On the other hand, Joan Crawford is a brassy hoot and Harlow is a sassy charmer. It’s great to spend time with them. However, the most important moments are reserved for those between Thalberg and Mayer, his feckless father figure who threw him over for son-in-law David O. Selznick, and Norma Shearer. The imagined scenes between Thalberg and Norma are beautifully done, with their intimate conversation at Carole Lombard’s Mayfair Ball bringing a tear to my eye.

Amazon reviews:

5 STARS
I very rarely write a review but I had to on this book. Every book Martin Turnbull writes is absolutely excellent and this one is no exception. He does his research and turns it into a story that is great to read. Such a talented writer. I wish the book was 1000 pages long so I could still be reading it !!

5 STARS
The story of Irving Thalberg told in such a way that Hollywood comes alive, Mr. Thalberg was the man behind the movies in the golden age of movies. I had never heard of him before. The story part biography part story was told in such a way that putting it down was impossible. At the end I had laughed, cried, felt great empathy and felt that big let down when I finally read the last page, because it had ended.

5 STARS
Martin Turnbull has created magic once again. Irving Thalberg came to life in the pages of this book and I felt I was part of the story-I was completely engaged the entire book. Such masterful story telling! Such real characters! Thank you for another amazing look into the early years of Hollywood.

5 STARS
5 stars for this new book from Martin Turnbull. This is, by my count, the 11th novel written by him. His masterful turn of words immediately invokes and transports you into the every day life of this Hollywood icon. Stellar research is what made this and his other Hollywood novels so enjoyable. For me it was a book I couldn’t read fast enough. 3 cheers for Mr. Turnbull.

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